Sebelius: Flexibility, benefits relayed to Corbett

HARRISBURG (AP) — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ office says she hopes constructive dialogue can continue with Gov. Tom Corbett in an effort to persuade the Republican to go along with a taxpayer-funded expansion of health insurance to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Pennsylvanians.

Sebelius and Corbett met Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C., with no comment from Corbett afterward.

Sebelius’ office says the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of enrolling people under an expansion of Medicaid eligibility for the first three years and at least 90 percent after that. Her office says she also stressed that the federal government wants to be as flexible as possible, within the confines of the law.

Corbett is refusing to support the expansion, saying he’s concerned about its long-term cost.